vladrin comments

@hworta269

These guys were probably acting like the 9-11 hijackers to a tee

A plane highjaker would wear modern clothes, have no beard, and act cool as much as possible. Look at previous cases (70s and up until the most recent case). Based on your discriminative comments, I do think that CAIR has a real case in the US.

@WilliB

There is definitely more to the story than just Indian dresses... supported by the Hamas front CAIR has been going on for a while, and it has been profitable to boot.

Based on the fact that you managed to involve Hamas somehow, I advise you that instead of doubting others, you might be better of spending some time doubting your logic and feelings.

@ExportExpert

Not our fault muslims in full garb scare people now is it, its the muslims who have created this image not us.

By mean you mean "our"? You and your companion the pilot? To be frank I saw my share of sick people at both sides, east and west. Take it from me, none of you is better that the other. And your highly discriminative remarks just prove my point (along the thumb-ups you managed to receive from people of similar mentality). I could imagine an older version of a person like you complaining about black people riding public buses with their indecent look and manners.

@some14some

Two sides of the coin, this one may be tender side of Al-Qaida (?)

They, al-qaida, indeed has nice ideas once in a while. Though the problem is mostly in the execution. When Iraqi branch of al-qaida decided that smoking is bad for your health and is against Islam's teachings, they enforced a smoking ban by cutting the fingers of smokers. Can't help but wonder what methods they will use to force people to look after their parents and grand parents.

@tmarie

I was told YEARS ago to wish customers "Happy Holidays" so I didn't offend anyone. The Muslims that complained in Canada... would they support a christian complaining about Ramadan celebrations in a traditional Muslim country?

In case you have doubts, in a country where the majority are Muslims (not necessarily an Islamic country), you are not allowed to eat (or drink) in the streets in Ramadan (to not offend Muslims). And in most Islamic countries, there are certain limits to what you can dress as a woman (they believe that they are helping you in not offending yourself).

While I'm defending Muslims continuously against discrimination based on religion, terrorism accusations, or that their religion is worse to others. As far as understanding of others goes, they have a serious problem. But it's not a religion issue, rather a level of civility issue. Had Canada and Europe were accepting intelligent immigrants only, this problem would unlikely have been, as I didn't hear much of complaining of Arab/Muslim researchers in the west, who are doing fairly well in their work and in adapting to other cultures.

As far as Christmas tree goes, I say if the Christians came up with it, let them enjoy calling it what they want, can't be much offended. Though in countries like Russia (and in Soviet Union previously), were all families had Christmas trees although atheists, I find it kind of difficult to force them to call it a Christmas tree (especially that they celebrate new year, not Christmas). So it much depends on the Circumstances.

To be frank, one thing I'm not catching up with the critiques of the article is on being different. Everyone is different. You can be the Otaku of a class, and be different this way. You don't have to be Einstein to be different. The author didn't claim that she's superior to others, or even better in any way, just different. And what bothered her that the setting in Japan is a little too much constrained to have people have it their way most of the time. Is that really problem? or too much to handle?

A western person (or one with western mentality) would note that the picture of the whole article is not much clear, or one can state that the text is structured in a way that doesn't give a very clear opinion. Well this is an issue with most of the Japanese people when they state their opinion (basically, part of the Japanese character). Don't want to be much judging, but if one criticizes a Japanese person for stating his/her opinion in this manner, it really makes me doubt how much one learns from communication with Japanese people.

There many who claim that there is no problem in being different in Japan. But really, how much of people who stated this opinion are a Japanese who finished a Japanese high school? So how do you claim that she should have not had these problems at high school.

Then there is the part concerning manners. I don't plan to try to educate anyone, but rudeness is no a part inherited from culture. Stating an opinion in a respectful manner should take 10% more time when writing a comment, but should make the one to whom the comment is addressed be much more comfortable with reading it, and maybe dealing with the fact. If one has no intention of putting that effort, then why should he/she think that his/her comments are worth reading?

@southsakai

I much agree on your couple of posts.

@Xiron Hoyos

You can look at the failed relation as a loss, but you can look at it as an opportunity. You saved yourself from being doomed if you were stuck with her in a marriage for years. And I'm pretty sure you gained more experience on a kind of people that is new to you while interacting with her. I believe that you shouldn't allow this experience to consume you. As long as you have enough confidence, you shall have no problems. You seem like a good guy, and the fact that other people thumbed up your comment, means that other people do appreciate you too.

One link is missing in most of comments is that it has less to do with religion, and more to do with nation's overall level of civility and education.

Two days ago an Islamic party won the elections in Tunisia with about 40% of the votes. Here is what they have done so far:

They formed a coalition with another 2-4 parties. One or two of these parties are leftists (socialists, etc.). They could have formed the government with only one party, but they preferred to get everyone involved.

The prime minister to be is from the Islamic party. The president is likely to be a socialist/ex-socialist.

They have elected members to a parliament like body, half of them which are women.

Party's president stated that people can still drink alcohol, and women are free to dress what they, want including bikinis. (Nope, no oppression)

Now you have some Muslims stating that Tunisian have no understanding of Islam, and that they favor material pleasures over God's true guidance. So, the question is: are Muslims bad or good? It depends on who they are. If an educated nation adopts Islam, they will have good results. And if intellectually poor nations adopts Islam, you will have poor results.

That said, I don't think that if Libyans where Christians, they would have been any better. Their current problem is that their people were much oppressed, so they need time to open up. Though to be frank, I didn't hear them state that they will adopt Sharia, it's just that their constitution shouldn't conflict with Islamic rules.

So WilliB, concerning your comments regarding the Arab-spring (becoming Arab-winter). It's not for you to decide who deserves a democracy and who deserves a dictatorship.

@cleo

The essence of good chocolate is don't muck it up with stuff what don't belong.

Raisins and chocolate is good. Strawberries and chocolate is good.

Fermented tofu, green tea, sansho, shichimi and sesame with chocolate is not good.

I'm not sure I could much agree with you, because you never could expect the outcome. I never knew that chocolate can be mixed with tea until I tried Jeff de Bruges' dark chocolate with Black Tea (which was very interesting for me). Tried chocolate with Green Tea, but found nothing expressive. Mint seems a little vulgar (though can be tried once in a while for a change). For chocolate lovers who eat chocolates every one or two days, refreshing tastes are needed. But if one eats chocolates about once a week, then it seems more important the manufacturer sticks to the basics and have good ingredients.

P.S. Strange, none talked about Belgian as it seems the best to me. Though, as Nicky said, sometimes it's overpriced.

@Fadamor

If the man attends to his wife's needs properly, then these kinds of places would never be visited by the wife.

Except for one component is missing here: Honesty/Integrity. If someone gets bored or his/her desires are unfulfilled, then it should be addressed with the spouse first. Seems funny in a way how many people find excuses for themselves, how the other should know that you are unfulfilled anymore, one can get that feeling in a month, another in 3 years. Again honesty and integrity are the key here.

@ben4short

It's none of my business. And to be frank the whole discussion between us went too far, I think both of us went too far. But the issue of you stating "Spouses and kids oh my! Quite a ridiculous and illogical argument. Let's simply make "stupid" adultery punishable by death, wha'dya say sport?" has taken the discussion to a new level (and you can imagine me jumping of my chair when reading your comment). Anyway, sorry if any of my comments seemed inconvenient.

@ben4short

Stop wondering, it's none of your business. It's the wife's problem.

Spouses and kids oh my! Quite a ridiculous and illogical argument.

It's obvious that you are a selfish person. I feel sorry for your kids, if you have any.

If you can't commit don't make a family. If you're into swinging, then discuss these things with your spouse in advance.

You might not understand it, but divorce is not a game, not after you tie a person with yourself for few year. One may marry a woman when she's 25, but if he divorces her on 35, she might not able to have a family again as it's more difficult to find a husband at that age.

Again, be thoughtful of people around you, and try to be a bit responsible if you plan to have a family.

@ben4short

Self-righteous moral imperialists trying to control the private lives of others.... The right to individual human sexuality. Closed doors. Victimless.

Private lives? Victimless? Maybe, but here is the kicker, some of them are married and their spouses don't know. So it's not very much private when you have a spouse. And if your spouse doesn't know, then it's not victimless at all. And if your spouse happens to know while you are having children and you get a divorce, then more victims for this stupid behavior (your kids).

@ReformedBasher

Well said ben4short

It always amazes how people who support/justify this behavior tend to completely ignore the bad aspects of such behavior.

@societymike

lol @ "we are a civilized nation"... which stones our women, doesn't allow their voice, supresses the people, rules with a dictatorship, and denies the Jewish Holocaust ever happened.....

"which stones our women": Not women, but married people who are accused of adultery, this includes men too.

"doesn't allow their voice": Not sure what you mean. But women get to elect and to be elected there.

"supresses the people": Yes, they do suppress their own people. But so does many countries, in America, Europe, Russia and Chine. This doesn't mean that they all intend to assassinate diplomats on USA's soil.

"denies the Jewish Holocaust ever happened": They didn't deny the Holocaust, they questioned the numbers of victims, and asked historians to reiterate over the historical facts to see how much innocent Jewish people were really killed in the genocide.

@SuperLib

So will that be your preemptive response to any and all international situations involving the US that might arise for the next couple of years?

Yes, this is in case something really happened. Currently, all of the US experts who interacted with Iranians say that this makes no sense. Neither for an ordinary person like me this makes any sense. To kill the Saudi ambassador in the USA of all countries, through a sales man who is known to be disorganized, and with cooperation with drug dealers!?

People in the US have the right to question the validity and timing of this issue, and you need not deny them that right.

@JapanGal

What I am saying Ben is that there are a lot of losers joing the ranks because they have nothing better to do.

Well, if my parents where alcoholics, I would most likely be a looser too. Few issues to all commentators:

The real ones who started the move in the US are civil rightists and college students. Not homeless and alcoholics.

Homeless people in California this year are twice as much as the year before. It's not like suddenly more people became alcoholics or suddenly lazy.

As for alcoholics and drug addicts. Most of the people don't understand that much is predetermined by the environment around a person. And when you are in a bad environment, the statistics are not your friend, and you are most probably ought to be miserable. I would never judge another person unless I would have been in his condition, and more so had a similar genes like him (which i impossible). So I think it's better just not to judge.

On a side note, I saw countless people work on pay jobs, and I know just how fragile they are (in terms of handling pressure/stress, taking risk to achieve results, etc.), and all of them, just seem so unaware of that fact. For instance I was arguing with a person who was rubbishing people, in some country that had critical condition, for being jobless, and when the economy took a hit (in 2008) and only 10% of people in the company where he was working were fired, he was among them (in a rude way, he was among the 10% most useless). I just can't imagine how long jobless he would have been have he lived in countries with tougher conditions (like the one he criticized), most probably for years. And had he had no parents, where he would have went? To the streets most likely.

Unless you have millions that you worked out yourself, you need to understand that you are as vulnerable as the people you are rubbishing, the people who became homeless this year. So I ask all commentators who criticized the people on the street to mature a little bit and be more respectful, because next year it could be you.

@DS

Yes, but often what seems to be an objective assessment to one, appears to be subjective to another. I don't want to start pinpointing as it should serve only a negative purpose, but still, in different standards one could find discrimination of Arab citizens in Israel at very high levels. Still I don't want to get into this conversation, as I said it shall server no purpose. Thus I say, it's easier for all of us to try to judge each other less.

@TigermothII

I agree with you on almost everything you said. But the issue is that Islamic radicals are being broadcasted and re-broadcasted again and again. For instance, two mosques were burnt last week in Palestinian territories by fundamentalists among Jewish settlers. But this is not broadcasted. One point I would like to mention is that Muslims treat atheists much worse than Christians and Jews. Which in turn, makes my interaction with many of them miserable. But still, I think these problems are solved by better education and tighter integration of different cultures, not by flammatory remarks often written by religious people of other groups. Malaysia and Turkey for instance have made a successful transition to a moderate version of Islam. And other Islamic countries should follow that path, but only with trust and mutual respect we can achieve that goal.

@DS

Another charming statistic- the WHO estimates that more than 90% of Egyptian females have been subject to genital mutilation.

This if an African problem, not an Islamic problem. Not sure though what this has to do with the subject. Still, you seem to be enjoying your time rubbishing other cultures.

yet conveniently fail to acknowledge the other four main murderers of the 20th century who were all devoutly atheist

And not sure from where do you get your numbers and go and say that atheists murdered the most. There is one well known statistics, which concerns world war victims, and none of the persons you mentioned had a direct contribution to it (Except for Soviet Union, that were on the defensive).

I would have had more self satisfaction if I had your simplistic/arrogant view of the world, where your culture/religion is right, and others are wrong. Thus I'm talking about the fact that may be a lot of religious people need to have a more open minded and a more relaxing attitude toward others with different beliefs. Just try to think less in who-is right-and-who-is-wrong way, and you will probably make more friends and less enemies.

@HonestDictator

I agree with the soul of your idea. But issue is that on this forum, I find the ones who attack Muslims the most, are both Christians and Jews (not atheists or Buddhists for some reason). And when I argue with Muslims, they always complain of the western Christians and Jews. Now, if you read what atheists say on this forum, they tend to say that Christians are not better from Muslims, so leave the islamophobia aside as it should do no good at best, and bring another war at worst. Now when I argue with eastern atheists, Arab atheists for example, you find them non-suspicious to westerns (both Christians and Jews), unlike their Muslim counterparts.

Now here is the position of a person like me who hears both religious and atheists at both sides (east and west). And for some reason, the voice of judging, phobia and war is coming from religious people at both sides. While I find that for some reason, atheists have a more relaxing and less judging attitude.

Now I don't think that I'm the only one who has such feeling. And from here you hear atheists complaining about religious people in general, as they know their attitude is to flame more conflicts, when we have more serious issues like having 8 million die of hunger every year, more than a billion people starving on a daily basis, more than 15,000 rape cases in Kongo last year alone, and the list goes on. Yet some find the time and patience to pick a fight with people who have a religion other than theirs, and be so much concerned about it.

@YuriOtani

I do not believe what is written in the Egyptian Papers.

It's not that you read Egyptian papers to begin with. But talking about Egyptian papers, they are the most advanced in the Arab world. Even during Husni Mubarak's time, they were very democratic, and much more democratic they became. It's strange that you talk about Military propaganda, provided that the journalists criticize the military regime the most.

Anyhow the Muslims are behind the killing of the Christians

Based on what? As far as I know, there were not two parallel demonstrations to begin with (one Muslim and one Christian). There were only one demonstration, led by Christian, and had some Muslim participants who went in support of Christians. The chaos began when the military forces in charge of the security were attacked with firearms, then 4 soldiers had been killed, and happened what happened during the chaos. So where are Muslims in the whole conflict I just can't see what you imply exactly?

I stand behind my brothers and sisters in Christ

If you want to stand behind your 8 million Christian brothers and sisters (a division based on religion), then there are roughly 70 million Egyptian Muslims who can stand behind their Muslim brothers and sisters. Fortunately, Egyptians don't live in a jungle. Egyptians live in a democratic state, and such conflicts will be resolved through official routes, not based on who stands behind who, and who has the most support.

Maybe you should be less paranoid, and have a more open view on the world. Then people on the other side will less likely look like devils to you.

@Madverts

Couldn't agree with you more. Though I envy you for where you live. Currently I live in a completely opposite place to where you are living now.

@TigermothII

Madverts - where are you from - I need to move there.

Why would you want to move there? To cause religious conflicts with your views :) Just kidding.

@TigermothII

So let me understand this - vladrin you are categorically stating that there is no persecution of Egyptian Christians by Muslim groups, or anyone else - outside of any normal persecution that anyone of any given faith might be subjected to?

If you are talking in general. There are radicals/ignorant on both side, who are few by the way. There were prosecution of people who converted to Christianity, and prosecution to people who converted to Islam (by both sides). Both of them were used in the latest days of Husni Mubarak's regime to shift the focus from the rising revolution. There is evidence that the bombing of a Church during the revolution was ordered by Habeeb Al-Adeli (the Interior Affair Minister back then), and it's likely that he will be hanged for this as he is now under prosecution. This is a pure example of people of the previous regime using the Muslim-Christian issue to shift the focus.

As for the latest events, there were eyewitnesses that said that start of the chaos was started by an outsider group that targeted the military with firearms. For now, it's believed that this group is among the remains of the previous regime. Currently, the government is investigating the latest conflict.

@TigermothII

It is funny how the defense of Islam always come on the heels of the latest atrocity withe the cry of 'it's only the radical elements'

Do you know what radicals of other religions have done in the past week, or it's not broadcasted on your favorite News channel. Obviously, you need to read more, and from other parts of the world. I will not start pinpointing, but I already mentioned that two Mosques were burned by radical Jews in the last couple of weeks in the Palestinian territories (you can read what I wrote previously).

I mentioned it many times, and I will mention it again. The mentality of many Christians that they are better than Muslims, and the opposite one, where Muslims think they are better than the others. Then throw some Jews in the middle. And you will have a world war thanks to the three groups of you.

I think all of the religious people should try to be open minded, and less judging. Especially that the comments of most of you show pure ignorance on these matters. And you always tend to see a religious dimensions in it all, when many of the conflicts are purely political. It's just like looking for another holy war.

@YuriOtani

I think the killing has already started in mass. Soon the Egyptian Army will round them up and place them into camps.

Sorry to say it this way, what nonsense are you talking about. Do you understand what you are saying? Pay more attention to what people who are closely related to this region write on this issue (my comments for instance). Read online resources on the issue from Egypt. I bet there are online Egyptian newspapers in English, and you should have a clue that no serious harm is surrounding Christians in Egypt. The death tolls among Christians are as much as among their Muslim brothers, which both resulted by the temporal political instability in the country.

@anglootaku

The theory of successful minority could work somewhere else. But in Egypt it's simply invalid. The most successful people in Egypt are the ones who served in the army and made a transition into businesses, and the ones of previous ruling party who merged businesses with politics.

To prove my point, the later were the first to get arrested, while the former were not touched. For now, people can't target ex-military officials, provided that the military is ruling Egypt in the transition period. And these who are really hated by the people, not your minorities (Christians or whoever might be). For instance, Ahmad Ez was sentenced to 10 year imprisonment only a week ago, who was the most well know in merging businesses with politics.

Concerning Christians (call them them Christian minority if you want). They need no help, neither sympathy from anyone. As I wrote previously on this thread, the conflict is purely political, but have taken a religious conflict look where ordinary Christian people were thrown in the middle. The Egyptian government is working on this, and this shall not be repeated as long as all Egyptians are awake and aware of the root of these issues.

@DS

You don't see too many Hindu fundies or Jewish fundies or Jainist fundies slamming hijacked aircraft into buildings, do you?

Yes, you don't see too many of these "fundies" on Fox News. But the violence among the Hindu fundamentalists is much considered an internal issue of India. And Jewish fundamentalists in Israeli settlements in Palestinians territories have already burnt two Mosques only in the last couple of weeks (2 Mosques in the last couple of weeks). Even the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) are complaining from the increasing activities of Jewish fundamentalists (only a couple of days ago).

I will go back to the typical advice. TV is good. Still it's important to read foreign newspapers to have a multidimensional view on any issue.

@DS

many/most Islamic countries are populated with uneducated and uncurious people.

Neither you seem to be curious enough to know much about Muslim countries. At least, from what you said, I could expect that you learn about Muslims from Fox News.

And you go further and claim that Hitler was an atheist. Hitler was a Christian, he himself stated that. It's obvious that you are a religious Christian. Not much different from the Muslims with whom I argue a lot.

@Steve

The issue in Egypt is purely political, and have less to do with religion (though it looks religious from the outside). But yes, I do agree with you on the issue that the followers of the Abrahamic religions are causing too much headache for everyone. And to sit a side, is a thing they will never be able to do. Muslims will always try to convert others to their religion. Many Christian missioners do the same, and many non-missioners could just feel sorry for your lost soul. And Jews are god chose, so I wouldn't even dare to criticize.

Still to others who thumbed down my previous comment. It shows just how open minded you are. Instead of telling opposite facts to what I mentioned, some seem to stick to their beliefs regarding the issue with no need to even consider any other opinions. After all, things seems quite clear to them, there are two religions, one is good and one is bad.

To be frank, I'm quite disgusted at how some people who have no knowledge on the issue jump into conclusions that Muslims have no respect to other religions, and the Arabs should didn't deserve a revolution for democracy.

The issue was simply like this:

To build a church in Egypt, like to build any other building of special purpose, you need to have a license. The builders of the church seemed not to bother with the issue. The authorities, in order to force rule in a country in transition stage, decided to remove the building. Christian Egyptians went into a peaceful demonstration to express their disagreement. (which is their right) There are some groups amongst Egyptians are interested in destabilizing the country as they will have a better chance to get into power (the people who were in power before the revolution, which I doubt are even Christians). This group have attacked the army with firearms, and caused 4 deaths among soldiers. An eye witnesses Muslim woman, who was participating in the demonstration alongside her Christian brothers, say that the trouble makers were located at a completely different place (from where the peaceful demonstration was). The Egyptian government had formed a party to investigate what happened, assuming that there were a conspiracy (which most of people in Egypt believe).

Some read a single article from associated press and start judging others.

@JapanGal

Why do the muslims think they are the only and correct way. Losers.

So Steve, you do not like us Jewish people either? We never did anything to you.

Nobody hates you don't worry. Though it's apparent that you hate Muslims (at least you think they are losers, this was mentioned explicitly in your own words). Just can't figure out how a person could manage to hate a whole group.

@WilliB

I told you so. From the beginning, sensible observers warned that the much-touted "Arab spring" will turn out to be a dark Shariah winter.

You seem to be very knowledgeable my friend. And only knowledgeable people like you deserve democracy, not the likes of the Arab barbarians.

@Cos

Thanks. I see your point, and now I understand your concerns better.

@tmarie

Who cares about this cult's survey?

I care, as I learned how people tend to change after a disaster occurs to them. And it opens mind to the possibility that I should have more care to people and the environment around me, instead of waiting for a disaster to occur in order to change. Their survey is much appreciated.

It's the first time me reading about Soka Gakkai. As it was much criticized and called a cult in this thread, I was curious to know what cults the Japanese have. I visited their web site and here is their mission:

"Everything ultimately depends on whether there is someone who is willing to wage a desperate all-out struggle, someone who will take one hundred percent responsibility without relying on or leaving things to others, someone who will work with selfless dedication for the sake of the people without any concern for what others think. Such a person is a true leader and a genuine Buddhist."

Nope, doesn't sound like a mafia to me, neither a "cult" in a disrespectful context (like saying "who care about this cult's survey"). I think we need to learn to be a little respectful to people who have different beliefs from our own.